Appeal to fund legal bid against relief road

The relief road plan was backed by councillors in October despite protests at the meeting

Campaigners have launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to fund a legal challenge against a controversial bypass.

Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road was backed by councillors in October amid a demonstration by protestors who feared the route presented a negative environmental impact.

The group behind the crowdfunding appeal, Better Shrewsbury Transport (BeST), argues the council should focus on improving other transport services.

The bypass would make a big difference in the town, the local authority said.

The long-running project was first proposed in the mid-1980s and had been in doubt due to rising costs.

But approval came, subject to conditions, after the government said the project was earmarked for money saved from the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2.

A legal challenge was the only route remaining to stop the scheme, Mike Streetly, from BeST, said.

"Building new roads just encourages more driving. What we have to do is reduce the factors that make people want to drive, that there are no alternatives," he explained.

The North West Relief Road will run from Churncote Roundabout to Ellesmere Road Roundabout

The group wrote to Michael Gove, the levelling up, housing and communities secretary, to ask for a public inquiry and said it hoped to hear a response soon.

The next step would be a judicial review and "we think there's a strong case", Mr Streetly added.

The £20,000 target came after advice from other campaign groups and any excess funds would be donated to The Good Law Project charity, BeST said.

According to Shropshire councillor Dan Morris, the bypass would take away 50% of traffic running along Smithfield Road and make the town a more attractive place.

"While I know that the road divides opinions, I'm confident that it will make a huge difference to people within Shrewsbury town centre," he added.